Volkanovski to go all out at Holloway and his “legendary chin” at UFC 276

Max Holloway meets UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski for a third time this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 276.

The American is currently MMA Fighting’s No. 6 ranked fighter in the world, while Australian Volkanovski is sitting at No. 3. This trilogy match will mark one of the rare occasions of top pound-for-pound fighters colliding, with Volkanovski having won both of the previous fights, and the second victory being a split decision.

Volkanovski, 33, says that the key to making a statement against Holloway is to go for his chin.

“That would be incredible. It’s a legendary chin that he has,” Volkanovski told the media. “I’ve always said, ‘you don’t want to be known for your granite chin,’ but at the same time, it is legendary at the moment. And if I could take that chin and put him out, that would really be sending a statement because no one has done that. But again, he obviously takes damage, and I’ve touched on the fact that it can’t hold up forever, so let’s see if it holds up this time.”

The 30-year-old former champion is greatly considered as one of the greatest featherweights in the sport’s history, nonetheless whirling into an 0-3 hole in the trilogy would effectively conclude his possibilities at ever recovering the belt as long as Volkanovski is UFC champion.

Volkanovski wants Holloway

And while Holloway has promised to end it inside three rounds, Volkanovski believes he will be the last man standing.

“I want to end it and end it early, and I think I definitely can,” Volkanovski said. “And again, I feel like that chin has to go soon. That’s no disrespect to him, but it’s got to go soon. I know I’m landing on it and landed on it big many times. We’ll see what happens. But if it ends inside the three, that’s me getting the finish.”

If Volkanovski ends up defeating Holloway at UFC 276, it would make him the best featherweights ever.